Just open: Opera Bar Cafe, Sydney

It's a universal truth that the closer you are to an international tourist attraction, the worse the casual food options become. Try and source a decent steak frites within a block from the Eiffel Tower, or a good margarita pizza outside The Colosseum, and you'll be flipping through laminated menus for days.

Circular Quay was no exception (a takeaway battered-sav was usually the best thing going) until Opera Bar relaunched itself in December 2014 under the stewardship of Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan. All of a sudden you could eat scampi ceviche, Blackmore wagyu bresaola, and Cone Bay barramundi with one of the world's greatest harbours as a backdrop.

Now, with the opening of a standalone cafe, Opera Bar has also entered the world of cacao protein balls ($6 each) and cold-pressed cloudy apple juice.

The breakfast-only cafe offers a short, minimum-fuss menu with standards such as smashed avocado and tomato on toast ($12), bacon, egg and chili jam on a soft roll ($12) and a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel ($12).

The most luxe item available is toast with fig, goat's curd, mint, and walnut ($12). Not that things need to get any fancier than this. Tourists at The House are more inclined to want a beaut lamington ($6.50) than caviar-topped scrambled eggs.

Coffee is courtesy of Single Origin Roasters, tea from Truly Tea out of Byron Bay and Sydney-based Cali Press is looking after the juice.

Quick, simple stuff that doesn't distract from the view, and a thousand times better than a doughnut from the Manly ferry.

Lower concourse level, Sydney Opera House, (02) 9247 1666, Mon-Fri 7am-12pm